THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2006
NEWS
>> LAWRENCE
3A
City manager answers to student concerns Corliss gives his thoughts on noise ordinances, nightlife and jobs for students
Corliss gives his thoughts on noise ordinances, nightlife and jobs for students
BY MARK VIERTHALER
David Corliss is the Lawrence city manager after being formally hired Friday morning at City Hall.
Corliss has worked for the city of Lawrence since 1990 in varying capacities, most recently as director of legal services and interim city manager.
Recently, Corliss sat down with The University Daily Kansan to answer some concerns that students have voiced over the past
several months.
Corliss
Q: The city of Lawrence Transit System and KU On Wheels have been discussing merging the two bus systems. The main student concerns are cost and control of the system. How will you address students' concerns on this matter?
A: Those are both import-
through good-faith discussions with student transportation leaders. It appears to be efficient to create additional transportation options. We have to look at the opportunity to merge. We can combine the benefits of a strong KU system and a growing city system. I
think we can make a better system for both the University community and the community of Lawrence as a whole.
Q: The noise ordinance in Lawrence has met with active resistance from students who claim it's unfair to punish students for occasionally making noise. The city currently meets with offenders on an individual basis to discuss issues. Do you feel the current law is serving its purpose, or is there room for improvement?
A: We're always open to improving any of our laws. However, it's important to recognize that we expect good, neighborly conduct from all citizens, students and visitors. Usually, when the police department tells people there have been noise complaints, most respond respectfully. It's not just a student problem. There are some who just don't recognize their responsibility to be good neighbors.
Q: With recent problems with house fires in Lawrence, will you address any building codes in the city that may prevent fires in older apartments and homes that students may live in?
A: We currently have very aggressive fire code requirements in congregational living. Working smoke detectors are required in every type of dwelling from multiple-family to single family residences. What's important is we have to look to add ways to get the message out to
home and apartment dwellers concerning the importance of fire safety.
Q: There has been an increasing amount of disagreement on the direction downtown Lawrence is heading. Those with non-alcohol serving businesses feel the increase in bars and drinking establishments is hurting business. How will you address their concerns and the students' desire for nightlife?
A: I think we already do that now. The fact is that downtown Lawrence already has a number of different faces. Downtown responds to a multitude of demands. During the day, it's the center for commerce. In the evening, the area offers dining and entertainment. At night, it serves for a different area of entertainment. I don't think one of these events is going to change the aspects of what downtown is.
Q: With rising tuition costs and the cost of living in Lawrence above the state average, how will you encourage jobs that would fit student schedules?
A: Economic development and the creation of quality jobs has to be a continued area of emphasis. The city clearly has to make sure there are great job opportunities for students. We understand there are traditional students who only go to school and then there are those who go to school full time and have to work to support themselves through school. We want to make sure there is employment for all the
different individuals
Q: How important is the relationship between the University and the city?
A: it's difficult to overestimate the importance of KU. It's very important to the city's identity and its economic health. A strong and vibrant KU helps Lawrence. On the same token, a strong and vibrant Lawrence is extremely important for KU. The city needs to be an attraction for students and faculty and staff. It also needs to be an attraction for those visiting. KU thrives as Lawrence thrives.
Q: After the recent hit and run accident on Kentucky Street, what steps will you take to make the campus area and residential neighborhoods safer for pedestrians?
A: We've got to continue to look at these neighborhoods to see if there are ways to improve pedestrian safety. However, it can't be based off of one accident, as unfortunate as that may be. It may not just be pedestrian safety we have to look at either. There needs to be some way for continual vigilance in alcohol awareness. Of course, I'm not being specific, I'm speaking overall.
Kansan staff writer Mark Vierthaler can be contacted at mvierthera.kansan.com.
HEALTH
— Edited by Mindy Ricketts
Watkins revises policy to offer HIV testing during routine visits
BY ANNA FALTERMEIER
HIV testing at Watkins Memorial Health Center could be as routine as checking your blood pressure soon.
Patricia Denning, Watkins chief of staff, said Watkins would make the test part of a regular doctor's visits after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its recommendations for testing last month. The goal is to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care.
The CDC estimates about 250,000
people in the United States have HIV and don't know it.
Denning said that in the past, Watkins had to talk to patients about their risk factors, assess those risks, council them about the test, and have the student sign a consent form. She said sometimes students would defer the HIV test because the test's preparations took so much time.
With the new test regulations, Denning said patients wouldn't have to go through the counseling or sign a consent form.
"When you come to the doctor for your routine check, for your thyroid test that you get every year, I can say, 'Hey, you would like to get an HIV test with that?' Denning said.
She said a goal of the new plan was that patients would no longer feel stigmatized that their physician had asked them to get an HIV test because everyone would be asked.
"We're not doing it because we necessarily think you're at risk for it," she said. "We're doing it because everybody needs to be tested."
Susan Iversen, Watkins laboratory supervisor, said between 460 and 470 students had blood tests for HIV at Watkins each year. Results are available a few days after the test.
Kristin Brumm, executive director at the Douglas County AIDS Project, said she thought the new recommendations were a positive step.
"It can take up to 10 years for people to develop noticeable symptoms of HIV" Brumm said.
Douglas County AIDS Project plans to offer free HIV testing within the month. The project offered free, confidential testing in the past, but couldn't offer the testing recently because of staff changes. Brumm said the employees were training new staff on how to provide the testing. The staff gave 324 tests in 2005.
Kansan staff writer Anna Faltermeier can be contacted at afaltermeier@kansan.com.
— Edited by Jacky Carter
Student helps professor find autism's cause
BY BEN SMITH
"Autism is diagnosed variably, generally, in many cases, when a child fails to develop language," Colombo said.
Anderson, whom Colombo credits with the conception of the study, said that this research was only the beginning of what she viewed as a career-long investigation.
"Our primary goal is to determine a method of early detection of autism in the stages of infancy or even prenatally," Anderson said. "And the study has implicated different neurological systems."
Anderson and Colombo used eye-tracking equipment to measure constriction or dilation in the pupils of three groups of children who were shown various images on a computer screen.
Colombo said that the study measured different indications of reaction, trying to measure visual attention markers in the child subjects.
Anderson said that if researchers could find a way to detect autism earlier, scientists might be able to pin-point the stage of development in which the problem occurred and then prevent it.
Kansan staff writer Ben Smith can be contacted at bsmith@kansan. com.
A recent research study conducted by a KU doctoral student might lead to earlier detection and possibly a better understanding of what causes autism in young children.
Colombo said that researchers across the country had been trying for years to discover a means of determining whether a child was afflicted with autism spectrum disorder.
Edited by Brett Bolton
Christa Anderson, graduate research assistant in the Bureau of Child Research, with the aid of John Colombo, professor of psychology, completed a two-year preliminary study to measure the pupillary response of children with autism.
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
YOUR AD HERE
HEALTH
Attention Student Groups:
October 4,2006
if your student organization is register with the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, you may get FREE ADVENTISING here in the Kansan through Student Senate!
Email chrisblackstone@ku.edu for more information.
Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board
Leonard Pitts Jr. Pulitzer Prize Winning Columnist
"Civil Liberties After 9/11"
Tomorrow, October 5th 7:30pm at the Lied Center
KU Filmworks promotes the production of student-produced videos and film. Founded time in the late ninies to a group of students who just wanted to make a movie, KU Filmworks is an outfit for the local student body to make the films that they just can't make in their theory and curriculum plans.
KU Filmworks
Open Seating, Non-Ticketed Event
We meet every Sunday at 8:00 PM at Oldmaster Studios
(9th and Avaton, just east of Iowa).
Movie nights are another element to our meetings that encourage members to bring in old films, new films, or even embarrassing films to show or show off.
Where: Oldfather Studios
When: This Sunday at 8pm
Contact moviewinner@email.com
We hope to see you and everyone
also this Sunday!
Student Legislative Awareness Board
Are you interested in Politics?
Do you feel as though your views and interests are not represented in local government?
Do you want to get involved and make your voice heard?
Would you like the opportunity to make a positive change for the university, students, faculty, and staff?
Would you like the opportunity to make a
SLAB is your answer.
SLAB is now accepting applications for coordinator positions. Apply and help promote student and higher education interests at the state and federal levels!
SLAB is your answer.
Nontraditional Student Foundation 2nd Annual Nontrad Tailgate
Available Positions:
Available Positions:
Public Relations Coordinator
Special Events Coordinator Deputy Legislative Director
Stop by the Student Senate office in the Kansas Union to pick up an application!
Email slab@ku.edu for more information.
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT SERVICES
NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT FOUNDATION
INVITE YOU TO
Join the fun to kick off the KU vs. Texas A&M Homecoming Football Game
Homecoming Football Game
Email slab@ku.edu for more information.
Saturday,11am-1pm Campanile Hill
Bring family, friends, kids, and an appetite for food and fun!
Free food and soft drinks will be provided.
CCO
Volunteer Fair! 4th Floor Kansan Union Thursday, Oct. 5th
The Center for Community Outreach Challenging, Educating, Empowering
Co-sponsored by the Center for Community Outreach and the University Careers Center
funded by:
SENATE
Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board
The Commission on the Status of Women organizes events (panel discussions, movie reviews, art walks, leadership conference, etc.) to address the needs of women, both students and faculty on campus.
Today.
4-5:30pm
At the Dole Institute
Political Power Hour
Will lead a discussion on
Congressional tax laws.
Guest James Arbury
Come to the CSW meeting in the Hawk's Nest on the 1st Floor of the Kansas Union this Thursday at 5:30pm to learn more!
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Get involved with Native Students on campus.
First Nations Student Association
Every Thursday at 6:30 in the Multicultural Resource Center
If you havent heard:
Up 'Till Dawn
Up Till Dawn helps raise funds for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. And the best part: No family ever has to pay for treatments!
Write it down:
Team Sign-Up Deadline: October 11th Up 'Til Dawn Round Up: Letter Writing Party:
Look it Up:
November 1st
Visit: http://groups.ku.edu/~utildawn
Email: utildawn@ku.edu
JayWalk is a service available to all students who want a JayWalk volunteer to WALK them to their residence hall or car, or to wait with them for the Night Campus Express Bus or SafeRide.
JAYWALK!
Have you ever felt unsafe walking alone at night on campus? Wish someone could walk with you? Jaywalk can help!
What is JayWalk?
Where is JayWalk?
The JayWalk station and volunteers are located inside Anschutz Library.
When is the service available?
JayWalk runs Sunday through Thursday
from 8pm to midnight.
Who walks with me?
One male and one female will escort you to a specific location.
WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR JayWalk?
Call us at: 864-3222
JayWalk is giving away an IPOD
Jaywalk is giving away an IPDO
Nanol Every time you use our
service or volunteer with JayWalk,
you get your name in the drawing,
which will be in December!
Volunteers are greatly needed and appreciated! While you are assisting KU students you can also study and do homework! Pick up forms in room 410 in the Kansas Union! If you have any questions regarding the service or about volunteering, please email Safety@ku.edu
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